Apparatus for vacuum sealing containers



Sept. 2, 1941. H. -A. BARNBY EIAL APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Au 11, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS 2 M w R m T A BY/f p 1941- H. A. BARNBY ETAL 2,254,642

APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 11, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 6b T. x g

all I 16 INVENTORS Sept. 2; 1941.

H. A. BARNBY ET AL APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 11, 1939 '10 Sheets-Sheet 4 HA.Barnb Z7 lNVEAiTOIQS ATTOR s.

p 2, H. A. BARN-BY ETAL 2,254,642

APPARATUS FOR VACUUM EALING CONTAINERS 10 SheetQ-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 11, 1939 I I l A if 1 7 4&9-

INVENTORS ATTOR S.

Sept. 2, 1941.

| A. BARNBY ETAL APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 11; 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. A. BARNBVY EI'AL. 2,254,642

APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 11, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 HABa ma WBJYu liberal CP WIu'ZZier INVENTORS A TTOR S.

Sept. 2 1941. I H. A. BARNBY EIAL 7 ,5

APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CONTAINERS I Filed Aug. 11, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O HA ..B,a rizby Ilka/'45 CP- Whz' Zh'er INVENTORS ATTORN S Patented Sept. 2, 1941 2.254.642 Armaarus Fon vacuum SEALING commas Herbert A. Barnby, William B. Hnllhorst, and Charlton P. Whittier, Toledo, Ohio, assignon to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application August 11, 1939, '1 .:.I

33 Claims.

v tainers formed of glass, metal or other materials,

such vacuumizing being so eifected that the product is not drawn from the containers thereby.

A still further object is the provision of a multiple head vacuum sealing machine wherein the closures, whether screw, slip or friction type, are finally applied to containers by mechanism which functions in response to the creation of a vacuum within a chamber or chambers which receive the neck portions of the containers with closures loosely positioned thereon.

It is also an object of our invention to provide novel automatic mechanism for grouping containers according to the capacity of the vacuum sealing machine, transferring the containers in groups to the machine, positioning the groups for vacuumizing and sealing and finally removing the groups of sealed vacuumized containers from the machine and placing them upon a conveyor.

It is likewise an object to provide novel container transferring mechanism which operates to remove a group of sealed containers from the vacuumizing and sealing machine immediately in advance of placing therein a group of containers which are to be vacuumized and sealed.

. Among other important objects is the provision of a vacuum sealing machine wherein vacuumizing of the head space of the containers being sealed functions to bring a closure tightening device into engagement with a closure on the container and wherein the device is then operated by a suction actuated mechanism for effecting final application of the closure.

It is also an object to provide novel means whereby the tightness of the applied closures may be regularly controlled and maintained absolutely uniform. I

Above all, the object of our invention is the provision of a compact, eflicient machine which automatically performs its functions with-a minimum of attention on the part of operators.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of the receiving end of our vacuum sealing machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a central transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 54 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

the machine.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the closure gripping jaws engaging a closure.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevational view taken substantially alongthe line 9-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the closure gripping jaws.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the jaws as employed in rotating a screw type closure.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but shows adaptors which permit use of the same mechanism in the application of friction closures.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the vacuum valve taken along the line l2-I2 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevatlonal view taken substantially along the line i3-I3 of Fig. 12, excepting only that the rotor has been advanced a few degrees to what is termed the closure tightening position.

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken along.

Fig. 18 is a detail sectional view of the mechanism for tightening screw type closures. Fig. 19 is a sectional view of a modified form of closure applicator.

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 showing the normal inoperative position of the applicator.

Fig. 21 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 25-21 of Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 22-42 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 23 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 23--23 of Fig. 1'1.

Briefly the apparatus (Figs. 1. and 3) comprises a base 25. which supports a container vacuumizing unit 26, feeding mechanism 21 for delivering containers to the vacuumizlng unit and mechanism for elevating containers into op- 55 erative position with respect to the vacuumlzing Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one sealing unit of unit 26 and other devices for synchronizing operation of the vacuumizing unit. feeding mechanism, and parts thereof.

, In more or less general terms the invention as illustrated, includes means for bringing containers C in groups of four to a position in proximity to the vacuumizing unit 26 and automatically transferring the groups one at a time to a station directly .beneath the vacuumizing unit. Thereafter the containers are elevated and have their upper ends with closures loosely supported thereon projected into vacuum chambers individual thereto. Mechanism within each vacuum chamber is firmly engaged with the closure,

' such engagement .preferably being effected in response to vacuumizing of the chamber. Follow-'- ing this operation separate mechanism, which may be and preferably is vacuum actuated, operates the closure gripping mechanism for the purpose of threading the closure onto thecorresponding container and hermetically sealing the latter. The application of vacuum to the closure applying mechanisms and vacuum chambers is then discontinued and the elevating mechanism lowers the entire group of containers which are then moved laterally away from the vacuumizing unit by a pusher bar which forms a part of the feeding mechanism 21. Simultaneously with resprockets 48 or rolls (Fig. 15), the latter being -mounted upon shafts 48 which are :Iournaled in bearings in the base 25. One of these shafts (Fig. 15) has driving connection to the main drive shaft 33 through sprockets 50, a sprocket chain 5|, a shaft 52, and meshing bevel gears 53, one of which is keyed to the inner end of the main drive shaft 33. The shaft 52 which carries the lower sprocket 50 and one of the bevel gears 53,is journaled in a bearing 54. Power for operating a star wheel 55, by means of which containers are delivered to the cross conveyor 41, is obtained from the above mentioned shaft. 52 through means including a sprocket 56 on the shaft 52, a sprocket chain 51 meshing with said sprocket 56 and with a sprocket 58 which is positioned near the opposite end of the machine and is directly connected to meshing bevel gears moval of one group of containers from the elevating means, a second group is moved onto said elevating means.

The base 25 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 15 and 17) is of generally rectangular formation and includes front mechanisms is obtained from this shaft which in turn is driven by an electric motor 34 through a conventional Reeves drive 35, a belt 36, pulley 31 and speed reduction unit 38. The speed reduction unit includes a housing 39 which is secured to one of the webs 3| by bolts 40 or like fasteners.

A shaft 4| which is directly connected to the pulley 31, extends outwardly from the base 25 and carries a hand wheel 42 through which the drive shaft 33 may be manually rotated thereby facilitating adjustment and timing of the various mechanisms prior to starting a commercial run of the machine. The variable speed incident to the use of the aforementioned Reeves drive, is obtained by mounting the motor 34 upon a pivoted frame 43 which depends from a horizontal shaft 44 extending transversely of the machine proper. An arm 45 connected to the frame 43 is in turn connected to an adjusting device 46 (Figs. 15 and 17) by means of which said frame 43 may be rocked. Thus, the spaced relationship between the motor shaft and the aforementioned shaft 4| of the speed reduction unit 38 is varied with the result that the Reeves drive unit operates to increase or decrease the speed of said shaft 4|. The speed of rotation of the main shaft 33 is thereby regulably controlled.

The feeding mechanism 21 by means of which containers are placed in groups of four in proximity to the vacuumizing unit 26, and latermoved successively to positions directly beneath and beyond said unit, is driven by the aforementioned shaft 33. This mechanism includes a horizontal endless cross conveyor 31 which is trained over 59, one of which is keyed to a vertical shaft 60. This shaft 60 is journaled in a vertical bearing 6| and at its upper end is rigidly connected to the star wheel. The star wheel as shown is formed with four pockets 62 and a blank space 63 in its periphery. Thus, rotation of the star wheel together with continuous feeding of. containers C thereto along the feed conveyor 64, results in the delivery of four containers to the cross conveyor" and then an interruption in the delivery of the containers to the latter conveyor due to the blank space 63 in the star wheel. During this interruption, or pause. the four containers on the cross conveyor 41 are moved onto a container elevating mechanism 65, preparatory to being operatively positioned for the vacuumizing and sealing operations. Immediately upon movement of the group of four containers from the cross conveyor 41, the star wheel brings the first of another group of containers onto the receiving end of said conveyor.

Removal of the groups of containers from the cross conveyor 41 onto the elevating mechanism 65 and from said elevating mechanism onto a platform 66, is obtained by pusher mechanism 61. This mechanism (Figs. 1 and 3) comprises a horizontal pusher bar 68 which is attached to the inner end of a supporting arm 63, the outer end of the latter being turned downwardly and adjustably connected to the front end of a horizontal slide 10 which is mounted in slideways II, the latter positioned 'between the upper and lower reaches of the cross conveyor 41. The adiustable connection between the arm 69 and slide lllmay well include an adjusting screw 12 which has threaded connection with the lower portion of said downward extension of the arm 66. This screw 12 extends the full length of the slide 10 in which it is rotatively supported and at its extreme inner end, is threaded through a slide block I3 which carries a frame 14 upon which four pusher bars 15 are mounted. By adjusting the screw I2, the front pusher bar 68 and the four individual pusher bars I5 are adjusted as a unit, the degree of adjustment being determined. entirely by the diameter of the containers being handled. Thus, if containers of relatively small diameter are being vacuumized, the pusher bars (Fig. 3) will be adjusted inwardly so that the containers when placed upon the elevating mechanism 65, will be accurately alsigned or in register, with the vacuumizing unit 2 Reciprocation of the slide 10 for the purpose of imparting movement to the pusher bars is obtained by the motion of a rocker arm 16 (Figs. 3, 17 and 23) which is pivoted at its lower end to a hinge pin 11 carried by the lower portion of one of the webs 3| and at its upper end is connected through a link 19 to the lower side of the aforementioned slide 10. A cam roller I8, which is mounted upon the rocker arm in proximity to its fulcrum point, rides upon a continuously rotating 'cam 80 which cam is mounted upon and for rotationwith the main drive shaft 38. A coil spring 8| yieldingly holds the cam roller 19 in contact with the face of the rotary cam 89 and thereby insures the transmission-of uniform motion to the rocker arm I8. The contour of the cam 80 is such, with respect to the diameter and shape of the star wheel, that it operates immediately upon the placing of four containers centrally upon the cross conveyor 41, to move the slide 19 inwardly whereby to transfer the four containers to the elevating mechanism 95 and simultaneously and by the same stroke, remove four containers from the latter to the aforementioned platform 98.

This elevating mechanism 65 includes a vertically disposed carrier plate 82 which has its vertical end portions slidingly mounted in guideways 83 and at its upper end supports a series of lifter plates 84 or pads, upon which the containers C are positioned for elevation into operative relationship to the vacuumizing unit 26. It will be noted that the upper margin of the carrier plate 92 is bifurcated or notched, this obviously being necessary in order to avoid interference with movement of the frame I9 and pusher plate I carried thereby. The carrier plate 82 is connected through push rods 85 to the outer end of a pair of rocker arms 86 which in turn are mounted upon a horizontal rock shaft 81. Upon this rock shaft 81 there is mounted a rocker arm 88 carrying a roller 89 which rides upon a rotary cam 99, the latter being fixed to the aforementioned main drive shaft 93. This cam 99 is so shaped and positioned relative to the cam 99 which actuates the pusher bars, that containers placed upon the pads 89 are moved upwardly immediately upon retraction of the pusher bars and again move downwardly to their lowermost position slightly in advance of the initiation of the loading movement of said pusher bars.

Accurate final positioning of the containers upon the elevating mechanism 65 is definitely assured by means of rearwardly converging guide arms 9I or deflectors which are arranged in pairs individual to the chambers of the vacuumizing unit 26 and supported upon a cross bar 92, the latter being mounted at its ends upon a pair of vertical posts 93, or uprights, which support the vacuumizing unit 26 in spaced relation to the previously described mechanisms. These posts 93 are vertically adjustable in guides 94 provided in the end walls 39 of the base '25 in order to permit vertical adjustment of the vacuumizing unit 29 and thereby compensate for variations in the height of containers being handled. For the purpose of adjusting these posts and consethereon as will be apparent presently. has

much as the mechanisms for vacuumizing the containers and applying the closures thereto, are-identical in construction, and operation; the following detail description will largely be directed to only one of the vacuumizing heads which make up the vacuumizing unit 28.

Each chamber I00 is provided at its lower open end with a resilient sealing ring I09 which is designed for airtight sealing engagement with the shoulder or other portion of the container being sealed and vacuumized. This sealing ring is removably held in place by a metal locking ring I91, or follower, which is threaded into a collar I99, the latter together with a gasket I99,

' being bolted, or otherwise detachably secured to the lower wall I04 of the housing I09. A backing ring H0 is positioned in engagement with the inner surface of the sealing ring I99, for the purpose of supporting it against the distorting go'influence of vacuum which is created in the chamber I95.

Application of the closures C' to the containers C is obtained by mechanism including a closure gripping device III and a closure tightening device IIZ, the operation of which devices is synchronized with the step of vacuumizing the chambers I95 so that the containers aresufliciently vacuumized prior to final application and tightening of the closures thereon.

d0 Each of the closure gripping devices comprises a divided rotary carrier plat H3 (Figs. 6' to 9) which is positioned in the upper area of the chamber I95 and, on its lower side, at diametrically opposed points, carries a pair of depending hinge pins ms to which a pair of bell crank levers H5 is pivoted. The longer arms of these two levers extend in opposite-directions and at their outer ends, which are positioned diametrically opposite each other, are pivoted so through hinge pins H9 to the medial point of a pair of jaws Ill. Each Jaw is of substantially semi-circular form and on its inner surface near one end thereof, is provided with serrations or teeth H8 and at a corresponding point at the other end, with an upwardly inwardly tapered face H9. The teeth H9 are formed to bite into or interlock with the usual corrugations on a closure, upon movement in one direction and to slide freely over the surface of the closures when moved in the reverse direction. Both the teeth 8 and smooth surface I I9 are tapered inwardly and upwardly for the purpose of holding to a minimum, the area of contact between the jaws and closure and definitely avoiding any contact quently the elevation of the unit 26, a. worm of the jaws with the threaded area of the clogear 95 is threaded upon each post between said guide 95 and a boss 99 and runs in mesh with a worm 91. The worms 9! are fixed upon an adjusting rod 98 which extends longitudinally of the machine and is journaled in bearings 99.

sures. Moreover, such tapering permits the jaws to accommodate closures varying in diameter. In Fig. 11 we have shown adaptors I 29 which may be attached to the lower side of the laws in order to accommodate closures of unusually large diameter.

The jaws Ill which are similar in construction and operation to the well known alligator jaws constituting a part of ordinary pipe wrenches, are opened and closed by mechanism which is connected to the short arms I2I of the levers Hi. This operating mechanism comprises a pair of radially disposed links I22, the outer ends of which are connected to the short arms I2I of the levers H5 and the inner ends of which are connected through a pivot pin I23 and a pair of relatively short vertical links I24 to the lower end of a push rod I25 which extends vertically upwardly into the interior of the dome-like cap IOI of the vacuumizing unit where it is connected to metal bellows I26. This bellows I25 includes upper and lower end plates I21 and I28 respectively, the latter carrying an elongated guide sleeve I29 which extends into the bellows and surrounds a major portion of the push rod I25 within said bellows. A coil spring I30 within the bellows normally exerts an expanding tension thereon and opposes downward compression thereof which is necessary in bringing the Jaws into gripping engagement with a closure. In this connection it is to be understood that the step of exhausting air from the chamber I05, likewise operates to compress the bellows and through the push rod I25 and links heretofore described, brings the jaws into firm gripping engagement with the closure which has been loosely positioned upon the container. Such application of vacuum to the bellows simultaneously with the removal of air from the chamber I05, is obtained by a structure including a tubular housing I3I which encloses a major portion of the push rod I25 and is sufliciently oversize to provide a passageway between the rod and housing through which air can be exhausted from the bellows simultaneously with vacuumization of the chamber I05. The lower end of this housing is bolted or otherwise attached to the divided carrier plate II3, so that rotation of said housing in a manner to be described presently, will eifect threading of a closure upon a container.

An airtight seal between the lower portion of the tubular housing I3I and the opening I32 and the corresponding chamber I05, is obtained by means of a packing material I33 which is placed around the housing and held under compression by a coil spring I34, the latter being held in place by a plate I35. The upper end of the aforementioned tubular housing has threaded connection with the lower end plate I28 of the bellows and is rotatably fitted into a guide I35 which is carried by a frame I31. This frame, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5 to 8, is attached to bosses I38 on the bottom wall I04 of the housing by means of bolts I39 or like fastening devices. From the above it is understood that the jaws can be brought into engagement with the closure and move the latter downward into firm engagement with a container until both the chamber and container have been vacuumized to a point which is controlled by the tension of the spring I30. At such time as the desired degree of vacuumization has been obtained, and the tension of the spring is overcome thereby, the bellows collapse downwardly, and the jaws are then brought into firm engagement with the closure. Thus the closure is moved downwardly into firm contact with the sealing surface of the container.

The closure tightening device I I2 (Figs. 3 and 6 to 8) which imparts rotary motion to the closure gripping device III, comprises a vacuum operated piston motor I40 which is connected to a spool I4I, or collar, the latter being keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the tubular housing I3I. The

piston motor includes a housing I42 which is positioned in register with the opening I03 in the rear wall I02 of the elongated box-like housing I00. A horizontal cylinder I43 is mounted in the housing I42, the outer end of said cylinder being in communication with a manifold I44 which extends lengthwise of the housings I00 and I42 and provides for the simultaneous application of vacuum to theseveral cylinders. The inner end of the cylinder I43 terminates in proximity to the aforementioned spool I. The cylinder I43 is held in place by a locking ring I45, the latter also holding under compression, a sealing ring I46 which prevents loss of vacuum such as would occur from the seepage of air into the outer end of the cylinder from the interior of the housings I00 and I42. A piston I41 within the cylinder I43, is connected by means of a sprocket chain I48 or any other flexible connecting element to the spool I4 I. Thus, it is apparent that by the simple step of exhausting air from the outer end of the cylinder I43, the piston I4! is moved outwardly and thereby operates through the sprocket chain I48 and spool I to impart rotary motion to the tubular housing I3I and laws III connected thereto. Return of the piston I41 and the jaws I I! to their starting or initial positions, is obtained by a spring I49 which is anchored at one end to a hub I50 on said spool, is wound upon said hub under tension and has its other end I5I secured to a pin I52, the latter being supported in a boss I53 rising from the wall*I04.

The air is exhausted from the several chambers I05, (which communicate with each other through ports I54) and the piston motor cylinders I43,'by way of pipes I55 and I56 respectively, which pipes lead to a vacuum distributor I51 or valve, the latter being connected to a main vacuum supply pipe I58 and to the aforementioned main drive shaft 33 which actuates the distributor or valve plate. This distributor functions to time the application of vacuum to the several chambers I05 with respect to operation of the closure tightening mechanism and in addition, periodically interrupts application of vacuum to both the chambers and tightening devices so that a group of hermetically sealed jars may be removed from the vacuumizing unit and a group to be sealed, brought into position for vacuumizing and sealing.

This distributor or valve (Figs. 1 and 12 to 15) consists of a drum-like housing including a removable face plate I59, which at its axis, is connected to the aforementioned supply pipe I58. The inner surface of this plate is engaged with a rotor I60 or valve plate, the latter having separable connection to the main drive shaft 33, said connection including a coil pring I6I which operates to maintain the meeting surfaces of said rotor and face plate in snug sealing contact with each other.

Communication between the vacuum pipes I55 and I56 one at a time, with the supply pipe I58 and at regular time intervals with the atmosphere is obtained by means of a series of ports and a distributing chamber or manifold, all of which are provided in the aforementioned rotor IE0 or valve plate. Inprder to avoid withdrawal of any of-the contents of the containers being vacuumized and sealed, the degree of vacuum applied to the chamber I05 by way of the pipe I55 is progressively and gradually increased from zero to the maximum desired. This is accomplished by a structure substantially as follows. The distributor chamber I62 (Figs. 12, 13, and 14) communicates at all times with the supply pipe I58 and through a series of ports I63 with an opening I54, the latteropening directly into the adjacent end of said pipe I55. The ports I63 communicate with arcuate channels I65 and in some instances with circular recesses I66, which determine the manner in which vacuum may be applied to the chamber I05. By reference to Fig. 12 in which the exact contour of the distributing chamber I62 may be ascertained, it is clear that inasmuch as the rotor I60 revolves in a clockwise direction, and the ports I 63 progressively increase in area in a counter-clockwise direction, the degree of vacuum applied to the pipe I55 and therefore to the chamber I05, will gradually increase as stated heretofore. Spaced circumferentially from the series of ports I66 and counterclockwise from the opening I64 a short distance, is an exhaust port I6'I (Figs. 12 and 14) which upon being brought into regitser with the opening I64 permits breaking of the vacuum in the pipe I55 and vacuumizing chambers I05. This port I61 (Fig. 14) communicates with the atmosphere by way of an opening I66 which surrounds the adjacent end of the main drive shaft 33. As

brought out heretofore, the step of exhausting air from the chamber I05, also brings the jaws I I1 into firm gripping engagement with a closure. This is followed by actuation of the tightening device, which is also vacuum operated.

The application of vacuum to the pipe I56 and thence to the piston motors I60 is obtained through the provision of a port I69 (Figs. 12 and 13) in the rotor I60, said port opening into an elongated channel I70 in the outer face of the rotor. The port and channel communicate directly with the distributing chamber I62 or manifold and at regular intervals, connect it with a port III or opening which leads to the adjacent end of the vacuum pipe I56. Spaced counterclockwise from the inlet port I69 is an exhaust port I'IZ, which, at regular time intervals, es tablishes' communication between the pipe I56 and the atmosphere by way of the aforementioned opening I68, thereby breaking the vacuum in the piston motors I40 and permitting the spring devices to return the tighteners to their starting position.

In order that all closures applied by our vacuumizing unit may be applied with a uniform degree of tightness which incidentally can be regulably controlled, a valved vent I13 or bleeder valve (Fig. 13) is provided in the conduit I16 which connects the port III and the aforementioned pipe I56. This valved vent comprises a ball valve I I which is held closed upon a seat I16 by means of a spring Ill. The seat I76 is provided at the inner end of a threaded tube I18 which is adjustable to regulably control the effective tension of the spring III upon the valve and thereby predetermine the degree of vacuum that will unseat the valve and permit entry of outside air into the vacuum line. In this manner it is obvious that the motors I60 will uniformly tighten the closures upon the containers and that the degree of tightness may be regulated with ease.

In operation, the containers with closures loosely positioned thereupon, are automatically moved along the conveyor 64 (Fig. 2) to the star wheel 55, which, together with curved plate 66 direct the containers in group of four to the cross conveyor 61. Obviously, the unit may be constructed to accommodate any desired number of containers. Upon completion of the transfer of four containers to the cross conveyor, the blank space 68 in the star wheel interrupts delivery of any additional containers to the cross conveyor until the four already placed thereupon have been moved into position beneath the vacuum chambers I05. This movement of the four units.

head IOI in one direction will lower the ring into containers as a group is accomplished by the pusher bar 68 (Fig. 3) which is set to bring about accurate register of the containers with the opening of the vacuum chambers I05. The aforementioned guide fingers or bars 9| assist in efiecting accurate positioning of thecontainers beneath said chambers. The elevating mechanism then is operated to'bring the shoulder portion of the containers into tight sealing contact with the rubber rings I0Ii.- The elevating mechanism continues to support the containers with the neck portions and closures within the vacuum chambers during the vacuumizing and closure-tightening operations. While the containers are supported in the elevated position (Fig. 1) the pusher mechanism is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 3. The air is exhausted from the vacuum chambers in the manner Just described and upon'the creation of a sufficient degree of vacuum, the jaws III firmly grip the closures. The vacuum distributor valve then seals off the chambers from the source of vacuum and almost immediately thereafter, vacuum is applied to the several motors I 40 which impart rotary motion to the jaws and thereby thread the closures upon the containers. This latter operation places the springs I49 under tension so that upon breaking of the vacuum in both the chambers I05 and piston motors I40,

the jaws will be returned to their original position by said springs. Preferably the vacuum is broken simultaneously inthe several motors I40 and vacuum chambers I05.

In Figs. 18 to 22 both inclusive, we have illustrated a slightly modified form of our invention which is especially designed for the application of friction or slip type covers wherein the application thereof is efiected solely by top pressure. For the greater part, the same actuating devices are employed as heretofore. The structural changes reside largely in placing an adaptor unit within each of the vacuum chambers I05, which unit is engaged by the gripping jaws I I1 and in turn operates to apply top pressure tothe closure C the latter in this instance being a friction type metal cap adapted to be slipped over the neck of 'a tin can C The specific form of adaptorv illustrated, comprises a pressing ring I19 or collar which is non-rotatively supported in a carrier I and intended for vertical movement under the influence of a rotary head I8I which has threaded engagement with the interior of said pressing ring 9. The carrier I 80 which has vertical ports I80- through which air is exhausted from the container .to the chamber above said adaptor, includes a depending flange I82 which through the medium of an annular series of anti-friction balls I 83 running in vertical channels I86 in the periphery of the pressing ring I19, secures the latter against rotation. An annular series of anti-friction balls I85 carried by said pressing ring I79 and running in helical trays I86 in the periphery of the rotary head I8I, provide means whereby the said pressing ring .is held assembled with the other Moreover, as is obvious, rotation of the engagement with the closure C while rotation in the reverse direction elevates said ring. The driving head I8I carries a series of anti-friction balls I81 in a raceway in its upper face, which bear against the lower face of the upper wall I88 of said carrier I90. A hub I99 carried by said driving head I 8| extends upwardly through said wall I88 of the carrier and at a point spaced above the latter, is connected to a hollow cuplike driving ring I90. The exterior surface of this driving ring I 90 is tapered and provided with serrations I9I, or teeth, which are designed for gripping engagement with the Jaws III, which jaws operate to rotate the ring I90 and driving head I8I as a unit. Thus, the pressing ring I19 is moved into and out of engagement with the closure C. Return of the several parts to their initial, or starting position, is obtained by a spring I92, one end of which is secured to the hub by means of a screw I93 and the other end of which is anchored to a block I94. Retraction or the pressing ring following each closureapplying operation is limited by a stop I95 on the block I94 engaging an end of a ring I99 which is secured to the inner vertical wall of the driving ring I90. This ring is the full height of said wall throughout approximately 180, the remainder having its lower portion cut away to clear the attaching plate I91 of the block I94 when said ring and connected parts are subjected to clockwise rotation during the application of a closure. Set screws I 99 secure the ring in position.

In operation, a container is positioned as'shown in Fig. 20 with a closure loosely positioned thereupon. The airis exhausted from the container and space I95 above the adaptor in the same manner as in the previously described form of our invention. Such exhausting of air causes the jaws II! to grip the driving ring I99. Immediately, thereafter, the piston motor I49 operates to rotate the jaws and ring. Thus the threadedhead IBI is rotated and the pressing ring I19 moved downwardly whereby to force the closure onto the container.

The spring I92 is placed under additional tension by such rotation of the head "I and upon breaking of the vacuum in the chamber I95 and stopping operation of the motor I40, returns the head IBI to its uppermost or starting position.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. I

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber having an opening to admit the neck of a container and a screw type closure loosely positioned thereupon, means for effecting an airtight seal between the wall of said opening and an adjacent exterior surface of the container below said neck, releasable jaws for gripping theclosure, suction operated mechanism for efiecting engagement of the jaws with the closure, means for exhausting the air from said chamber and thereby actuating said mechanism, and means for rotating the jaws and thereby threading the closure onto the container.

2. Mechanism for tightening screw type closures upon containers comprising a container holder, jaws engageable with a closure, suction operated mechanism for actuating said jaws, and suction operated mechanism for imparting rotary motion to the jaws while engaged with the closure.

3.'Mechanism for tightening screw type closurm upon containers comprising a container holder, jaws engageable with a closure, suction operated mechanism for actuating said jaws, suction operated mechanism for imparting rotary motion to the jaws while engaged with the closure, and a spring device adapted to be placed under tension by said rotary motion of the jaws and operating to return the jaws to their initial position upon completion of the closure tightening operation.

4. Mechanism for tightening screw type closures upon containers comprising a container holder, jaws engageable with a closure, a holder for the jaws, suction operated mechanism for actuating said jaws, and suction operated mechanism for imparting rotary motion to the jaws while engaged with the closure, said last named mechanism including an open-end cylinder, 9. piston therein, and means connecting the piston and holder.

5. Mechanism for tightening screw type closures upon containers comprising a container holder, jaws engageable with a closure, means for eflectlng gripping engagement of the jaws with a closure, a rotary holder for said jaws, suction operated mechanism for imparting rotary motion to said holder, and means for regulably controlling the amount of suction applied to said last named mechanism to thereby control the degree of tightness oi! the closures on the containers.

6. Mechanism for tightening screw type closures upon containers comprising a container holder, jaws engageable with a closure, means for efiecting gripping engagement of the jaws with a closure, a rotary holder for said jaws, suction operated mechanism for imparting rotary motion to said holder, and means for regulably controlling the amount of suction applied to said last named mechanism to thereby control the degree of tightness of the closures on the containers, said last named means comprising a valved vent for admitting air into a vacuum supply line for said cylinder.

'7. Mechanism for tightening screw type closures upon containers comprising a container holder, jaws engageable with a closure, means for eflecting gripping engagement of the jaws with a closure, a rotary holder for said jaws. suction operated mechanism for imparting rotary motion to said holder, and means for regulably controlling the amount of suction applied to said last named mechanism to thereby control the degree oi tightness of the closures on the containers, said last named means comprising a valved vent for admitting air into a vacuum supply line for said cylinder, said valved vent including a spring pressed ball valve and means for regulably controlling the efie'ctive tension of the spring.

8. Mechanism for tightening screw type closures upon containers comprising a container holder, jaws engageable with a closure, means for effecting gripping engagement of the jaws with a closure, a rotary holder for said jaws, and suction operated mechanism for rotating the jaw holder in one direction and a spring device for rotating said holderin the opposite direction.

9; Mechanism for tightening screw type closures upon containers comprising a container holder, jaws engageable with a closure, suction operated mechanism for actuating said jaws, suction operated mechanism for imparting rotary motion to the jaws while engaged with the closure, and means for regulably controlling the eiiectiveness oi the suction operated mechanism whereby to predetermine the degree, or tightening pressure applied thereby to aclosure.

10. Mechanism for tightening screw type 010- sures upon containers comprising a container holder, Jaws engageable with a closure, suction operated mechanism for actuating said jaws, suction operated mechanism for imparting rotary motion to the Jaws while engaged with the closure, and an adjustable bleeder valve for regulably controlling the effectiveness of said suction operated mechanism and thereby predetermining the degree of tightening pressure applied to a closure. I

11. In apparatus for applying a threaded closure to a container having a threaded neck, a closure gripping device, vacuum operated mechanism tor rotating the device, and spring means for reversing the direction of operation of said mechanism upon completion of the closure applying operation.

12. In apparatus for applying a threaded closure to a container having a threaded neck, a closure gripping device, vacuum operated mechanism iorrotating the device, and an adjustable bleeder valve for regulably controlling the efiectiveness of said mechanism and thereby predetermining the tightness of closures applied thereby.

13. In apparatus for applying a closure to a container, closure engaging means, vacuum operated mechanism for actuating said means and causing the latter to attach the closure to a container, a spring device opposing operation of said mechanism and functioning upon completion of the closure applying operation to reverse said mechanism, a vacuum chamber enclosing a portion of the container, the closure, closure engaging means and at least a portion of said mechanism, and means for exhausting the air from said chamber.

14. In apparatus for applying a threaded closure to a container having a threaded neck, a closure gripping device, vacuum operated mechanism for rotating the device, spring means for reversing the direction of operation of said mechanism upon completion of the closure applying operation, a vacuum chamber enclosing a portion of the container, the closure, closure engaging means and at least a portion of said mechanism, and means for exhausting the air from said chamber.

15. In apparatus of the character described, closure gripping and rotating means comprising a pair of pivoted arms mounted for oscillation in a horizontal plane, jaws pivoted to said arms and engageable with a closure, said jaws also movable in a horizontal plane, each jaw including a toothed area and a smooth surface engageable with the periphery of the closure at circumferentially spaced points, said toothed area and smooth surface being tapered upwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the closure, and means for moving said arms to thereby bring the jaws into engagement with the closure.

16. In apparatus of the character described, closure gripping and rotating means comprising a pair of pivoted arms mounted for oscillation in a horizontal plane, jaws pivoted to said arms and engageable with a closure, said jaws also movable in a horizontal plane, each jaw including a toothed area and a smooth surface engageable with the periphery of the closure at circumferentially spaced points, said toothed area and smooth surface being tapered upwardly and inwardly toward the axis or the closure, means for moving said a rms to thereby bring the Jaws into engagement with the closure, and vacuum controlled means for rotating the arms and Jaws as a unit about the axis of a closure.

17. In apparatus of the character described. a vacuum chamber for receiving the neck and of a container and a closure loosely resting thereupon, closure gripping means at least in part located within said chamber, means for exhausting theair simultaneously from said chamber and container, a vacuum operated bellows actuated in response to a predetermined degree of vacuumization of said container and chamber for bringing the gripping means into engagement with the closure, and mechanism for rotating said gripping means and thereby sealing the closure upon a container. t a

18. In apparatus of the character described. a vacuum chamber for receiving the neck end of a container and a closure loosely resting thereupon, closure gripping meansat least-in part located within said chamber, means for exhausting the air simultaneously from said chamber and container, a vacuum operated bellows actuated in response to a predetermined degree of vacuumization of said container and chamber for bringing the gripping means into engagement; with the closure, and mechanism including a suction operated piston motor for rotating said gripping means and thereby sealing the closure upon a container.

19. In apparatus of the character described, a vacuumizing unit including a plurality of downwardly opening chambers arranged side by side in a straight line, container elevating mechanism positioned beneath the chambers and operable to position the neck end of containers withclosures loosely positioned thereupon in said chambers during vacuumizing of the containers and final attachment of the closures thereto, means for actuating the elevating mechanism, means for exhausting the air from the chambers simultaneously, closure gripping mechanism at least in part located within each of said chambers and operable in response to the creation of a predetermined degree 01 vacuum in said chambers to grip the closures, means for rotating the closure gripping mechanism, and means for loading and unloading the container elevating mechanism.-

20. In apparatus of the character described,

a vacuumizing unit including a plurality of downwardly opening chambers arranged side by side in a straight line, container elevating mechanism positioned beneath the chambers and operable to position the neckend of containers with closures loosely positioned thereupon in said chambers during vacuumizing of the containers and final attachment of the closures thereto, means for actuating the elevating mechanism, means for exhausting the air from the chambers simultaneously, closure gripping mechanism at least in part located within each of said chambers and operable in response to the creation of a predetermined degree of vacuum in said chambers to grip the closures, vacuum operated means for rotating the closure gripping mechanism, means for loading and unloading the containerelevating mechanism, and a rotary vacuum distributing valve for timing operation of the said closure in a straight line, container elevating mechanism positioned beneath the chambers and operable to position the neck end of containers with closures loosely positioned thereupon in said chambers during vacuumizing of the containers and final attachment of the closures thereto, means for actuating the elevating mechanism, means for exhausting the air from the chambers simultaneously, closure gripping mechanism at least in part located within each of said chambers and operable in response to the creation of a predetermined degree of vacuum in said chambers to grip the closures, means for rotating the closure gripping mechanism, means for delivering groups of containers to the elevating mechanism including across conveyor positioned parallel to an imaginary line connecting the centers of said chambers, automatic means for placing containers upon the cross conveyor in uniform spaced relationship, and mechanism for transferring containers in groups from the cross conveyor to the elevating mechanism.

22. In apparatus of the character described, a vacuumizing unit including a plurality of downwardly opening chambers arranged side by side in a straight line, container elevating mechanism positioned beneath the chambers and operable to position the neck end of containers with closures loosely positioned thereupon in said chambers during vacuumizing of the containers and final attachment of the closures thereto, means for actuating the elevating mechanism, means for exhausting the air from the chambers simultaneously, closure gripping mechanism at least in part located within each of said chambers and operable in response to the creation of a predetermined degree of vacuum in said chambers to grip the closures, means for rotating the closure gripping mechanism, means for delivering groups of containers to the elevating mechanism including a cross-conveyor positioned parallel to an imaginary line connecting the centers of said chambers, automatic means for placing containers upon the cross conveyor in uniform spaced relationship, mechanism for transferring containers in groups from the cross conveyor to the elevating mechanism, and means actuated by said transferring mechanism for removing sealed containers from the elevating mechanism in advance of the transfer of containers to be sealed, from said cross conveyor.

23. In apparatus of the character described, a vacuumizing head having a downwardly opena ing vacuum chamber, a resilient sealing ring at a vacuumizing head having a downwardly open-.

ing vacuum chamber, a resilient sealing ring at the lower margin of the wall of the chamber, closure gripping means within the chamber including a divided carrier plate mounted for rotation about a vertical axis coincident with the axis of said chamber, a pair of levers pivoted to the lower side of said plate at diametrically opposed points, closure gripping jaws carried by said levers, mechanism operable in response to the creation of a vacuum in said chamber for swinging said levers and thereby contracting the jaws about a closure, mechanism for positively rotating the carrier plate in one direction, and spring means opposing such rotation and operable to reverse the direction of rotation upon completion of the closure applying operation.

25. In apparatus of the character described, a vacuumizing head having a downwardly opening vacuum chamber, a resilient sealing ring at the lower margin of the wall of the chamber, closure gripping means within the chamber including a divided carrier plate mounted for rotation about a vertical axis coincident with the axis of said chamber a pair of levers pivoted to the lower side of said plate at diametrically opposed points, closure gripping jaws carried by said levers, mechanism operable in response to the creationof a vacuum in said chamber for swinging said levers and thereby contracting the jaws about a closure, mechanism for rotating said carrier plate including a piston motor, means operatively connecting the motor and carrier, and means for applying suction to said motor at regular time intervals.

26. In apparatus of the character described, a vacuumizing head having a downwardly opening vacuum chamber, a resilient sealing ring at the lower margin of the wall of the chamber, closure gripping means within the chamber including a divided carrier plate mounted for rotation about a vertical axis coincident with the axis of said chamber, a pair of levers pivoted to the lower side of said plate at diametrically opposed points, closure gripping jaws carried by said levers, mechanism operable in response to the creation of a vacuum in said chamber for swinging said levers and thereby contracting the jaws about a.

closure, mechanism for rotating said carrier plate including a piston motor, a tubular housing connected to said carrier, sprocket and sprocket chain mechanism connecting said housing and the piston motor, and means for applying suction to the said motor at regular time intervals.

2'7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber having an opening to admit the neck of a container and a closure loosely positioned thereupon, means for effecting an airtight seal between the wall of said opening and an adjacent exterior surface of the container below said neck, closure gripping mechanism at least in part disposed within the chamber, means including a vacuum operated piston motor for rotating the closure gripping means, a source of supply of vacuum, individual pipes communicating with said vacuumizing chamber and piston motor, and a rotary timing valve providing communication between the source of vacuum supply and said pipes.

28 Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber having an opening to admit the neck of a container and a closure loosely positioned thereupon, means for effecting an airtight seal between the wall of said opening and an adjacent exterior surface of the container below said neck, closure gripping mechanism at least in part disposed within the chamber, means including a vacuum operated piston motor for rotating the closure gripping means, a source of supply of vacuum, individual pipes communicating with said vacuumizing chamber and piston motor, a rotary timing valve providing communlcation between the source of vacuum supply sitioned thereupon, means for eflecting an airtight seal between the wall of said opening and an adjacent exterior surface of the container below said neck, closure applying mechanism at least in part disposed in said chamber and including a vertically movable pressing ring, a

'guidefor said ring, and a rotary driving head having threaded engagement with the ring and operable upon rotation to impart vertical movement to the latter.

30. Apparatus of the character describedcomprising a chamber having an openingto admit the neck of a container and a closure loosely positioned thereupon, means for effecting an airtight seal between the wall of said opening and an adjacent exterior surface of the container below said neck, closure applying mechanism at least in part disposed in said chamber and including a vertically movable pressing ring, a guide for said ring, a rotary driving head having threaded engagement with the ring and operable upon rotation to impart vertical movement to the latter, means for rotating said driving head including a driving ring secured to the head, and vacuum operated means for rotating said driving ring.

31. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber having an opening to admit the neck of .a container and a closure loosely positioned thereupon, means for eifecting an airtight seal between the wall of said opening and an adjacent exterior surface of the container below said neck, closure applying mechanism at least in part disposed in said chamber and inby actuating said devices, and means for imparting rotary motion to said gripping devices.

32. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber having an opening to admit the neck ofa container and a closure loosely positioned thereupon, means for eflecting an airtight seal between the wall of said opening and an adjacent exterior surface of the container below said neck, closure applying mechanism at least in part disposed in said chamber and including a vertically movable pressing ring, a, guide for said ring, a rotary driving head having threaded engagement with the ring and operable upon rotationto impart vertical movement to the latter, means for rotating said driving head including a driving ring secured to the head, re-

leasable devices for gripping said driving ring,

means for vacuumizing the chamber and thereby actuating said devices, and means including a vacuum operated piston motor for imparting rotary motion to said ring gripping devices.

33. Apparatus of the character described corntight seal between the wall of said opening and an adjacent exterior surface of the container below said neck, closure applying mechanism at least in part disposed in said chamber and including a vertically movable pressing ring, a

guide for said ring, a rotary driving head having threaded engagement with the ring and. operable upon rotation to impart vertical movement to the latter, means for rotating said driving head including a driving ring secured to the head, re-

leasable devices for gripping said driving ring,

means for vacuumizing the chamber and thereby actuating said devices, means for imparting rotary motion to said gripping devices, and spring means interconnecting said driving ring and guide and operating upon complete application of a closure to reverse the direction of rotation of said ring gripping devices.

HERBERT A. BARNBY. WILLIAM B. HULLHORS'I'. CHARI TON P. WHI'I'I'IER. 

